Decision 38 COM 7A.29

East Rennell (Solomon Islands) (N 854)

The World Heritage Committee,

1. Having examined document WHC-14/38.COM/7A,
2. Recalling Decision 37 COM 7B.14, adopted at its 37th session (Phnom Penh, 2013),
3. Notes with appreciation that some progress has been achieved in the implementation of the recommendations of the Committee and the 2012 IUCN reactive monitoring mission;
4. Welcomes the assessment of threats to the property undertaken with support from the Government of Australia, and considers that the findings and recommendations of this assessment could provide a basis for the State Party to develop, in consultation with the World Heritage Centre and IUCN, a proposal for the Desired state of conservation for the removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger, as well as a set of corrective measures;
5. Notes with concern the reported plans to commence bauxite mining in West Rennell in 2014, which is likely to have similar impacts to the Outstanding Universal Value of the property as logging, and requests the State Party to undertake rigorous Environmental Impact Assessments for these plans to demonstrate that they will not have an impact on the property, in conformity with IUCN’s World Heritage Advice Note on Environmental Assessment;
6. Also requests the State Party to urgently put in place interim measures to mitigate the impact of existing logging operations, halt new logging operations, and to defer consideration of bauxite mining licence applications until the new management plan has been approved and is being implemented;
7. Further requests the State Party to undertake urgent action to halt the further spread of rats on Rennell Island and prevent them from entering the property, and to put in place the biosecurity controls necessary to prevent further introductions of invasive species to the island, and reiterates its invitation to the State Party to apply for International Assistance to support this work;
8. Acknowledges the State Party’s concern of climate induced sea level rise affecting the insular Lake Tegano and notes that the Climate Change Division of the Ministry of Environment will work with the Provincial Government on climate change adaptation and mitigation methods to address these concerns;
9. Further notes that the State Party acknowledges that the property should be declared under the East Solomon Islands’ Protected Areas Act (2010);
10. Urges the State Party to expedite the completion and implementation of the revised management plan for the property, and requests furthermore the State Party to provide an electronic and three printed copies of the draft revised management plan for review by the World Heritage Centre and IUCN;
11. Requests moreover the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2015, an updated report, including a 1-page executive summary, on the state of conservation of the property and the implementation of the above, for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 39th session in 2015;
12. Decides to retain East Rennell (Solomon Islands) on the List of World Heritage in Danger.